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Lot 79
A RARE EARLY 20TH-CENTURY LIFE PRESERVER
ATTRIBUTED TO FOBBERY & CO., RICH ST., LIMEHOUSE, LONDON; CIRCA 1912
Closed25 June 2008
Price Realised
USD 68,500
More Information
A RARE EARLY 20TH-CENTURY LIFE PRESERVER
attributed to Fobbery & Co., Rich St., Limehouse, London; circa 1912
comprising twelve (12) rectangular cork-filled stitched canvas panels with shoulder rests and side straps, heavily worn and stained with small areas of loss to the canvas and cork.
23 x 12 in. (58.4 x 30.5 cm.)
attributed to Fobbery & Co., Rich St., Limehouse, London; circa 1912
comprising twelve (12) rectangular cork-filled stitched canvas panels with shoulder rests and side straps, heavily worn and stained with small areas of loss to the canvas and cork.
23 x 12 in. (58.4 x 30.5 cm.)
A RARE EARLY 20TH-CENTURY LIFE PRESERVER
attributed to Fobbery & Co., Rich St., Limehouse, London; circa 1912
comprising twelve (12) rectangular cork-filled stitched canvas panels with shoulder rests and side straps, heavily worn and stained with small areas of loss to the canvas and cork.
23 x 12 in. (58.4 x 30.5 cm.)
attributed to Fobbery & Co., Rich St., Limehouse, London; circa 1912
comprising twelve (12) rectangular cork-filled stitched canvas panels with shoulder rests and side straps, heavily worn and stained with small areas of loss to the canvas and cork.
23 x 12 in. (58.4 x 30.5 cm.)
John James Dunbar; North Lake (Cape Breton), Nova Scotia
Jean (Dunbar) MacQuarrie
Winston Dunbar MacQuarrie
and thence by descent to the present owner
Jean (Dunbar) MacQuarrie
Winston Dunbar MacQuarrie
and thence by descent to the present owner
This life jacket was recovered by John James Dunbar when he went to Halifax to help with the cleanup after the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic. He brought the life jacket back on his return to North Lake, N.S. It is unclear whether it came from a beach "sweep" looking or remains along the shores of Nova Scotia, or from a victim recovered by the S.S. MacKay-Bennett, S.S. Minia, or one of the other ships sent out on the search for bodies, or from debris recovered by one of the ships (it is well documented that all of the ships brought back pieces of floating debris, such as pieces of wood and deck chairs). John James Dunbar apparently did this sort of thing whenever help was needed, and did the same after the Halifax Explosion of 1917.
In comparison to other fully documented Titanic life vests, specifically the vest in the collection of the Titanic Historical Society from Mrs. Astor, or the one sold by Christie's from Mrs. Mabel Francatelli, it is an exact match for size and construction. It is obvious that it has been in the water for a period of time, which would account for the the absence of any printed marking and the presence of oil and possibly blood stains.
In comparison to other fully documented Titanic life vests, specifically the vest in the collection of the Titanic Historical Society from Mrs. Astor, or the one sold by Christie's from Mrs. Mabel Francatelli, it is an exact match for size and construction. It is obvious that it has been in the water for a period of time, which would account for the the absence of any printed marking and the presence of oil and possibly blood stains.